Abstract
AbstractWe examine regional differences in how generalized trust and relation centrism influence how 16,785 firms across 20 lower- and middle-income countries perceive corruption as a business obstacle. Using the machine learning method LASSO, our empirical findings indicate that higher out-group generalized trust is associated with increased perceptions of corruption hindering business operations. Conversely, higher in-group friend centrism aligns with reduced perceptions of corruption as an obstacle. Interestingly, regional disparities highlight that family centrism generally outweighs friend centrism in firms' perceptions of corruption obstacles. Furthermore, while legal institutional and regulatory quality partly mitigate this effect, political stability consistently plays the most significant role in weakening this association.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
